AGP Executive Report

Tabletop & Adaptations: “Warrior Cats” is getting an authorized animated series, based on the first book arc, with Tencent Video and Coolabi; it’s in production and set for a 2028 debut. Publishing & Events: The British Library marked the National Year of Reading with Camilla as ambassador, plus a spotlight on young author Betsy Griffin. New Releases & Reading Culture: Ann Patchett’s “Whistler” is out now, with a behind-the-scenes look at how the cover horse was designed. Trade & Policy: The U.S. is proposing 10%–12.5% tariffs on medical supply imports from countries tied to forced labor, following a forced-labor probe. Author Spotlight: Andrew Moore will speak at Monkey Wrench Books about “The Beasts of the East,” covering elk, bison, and red wolves reintroduction in the eastern U.S. Book-to-Screen Buzz: Reviews and previews keep rolling for “The Vampire Lestat” (Interview with the Vampire Season 3) and HBO Max’s “Rooster,” both drawing attention to how stories shift across media.

Publishing & Books (June paperbacks): New June paperback releases include R.F. Kuang’s Katabasis, Ron Chernow’s Mark Twain, and Sophie Elmhirst’s shipwreck true story A Marriage at Sea, plus other June paperback highlights. Local Author Events: Sisters’ Paulina Springs Books will host Jane Kirkpatrick for With The Enduring Tides (June 9) and another author visit next week; Encore Books in Yakima plans a June 7 Author Fair & Vendor Market. Literary Prizes: The 2026 Sami Rohr Prize shortlist spotlights emerging Jewish writers, with finalists including Amir Tibon and Laura Hobson Faure; winner announced June 16. AI in Writing: Granta’s Commonwealth Short Story Prize controversy raises fresh questions about AI use and the limits of AI-detection tools. Education Tech/Access: CBSE’s re-evaluation portal faced a major cyberattack, with CBSE reporting 28,000+ successful submissions despite disruption attempts. Reading Culture: A piece on Jacinda Ardern’s youth-focused memoir adaptation argues it turns imposter-syndrome struggles into self-help for young readers.

Publishing Funding Push (Malaysia): PENA launched phase three of the PENA-Malaysia MADANI project, opening manuscript submissions across genres (including children’s picture books) until Dec 31, with RM1 million approved to build a fuller publishing ecosystem. Author-Editor Spotlight (UK): At Hay Festival’s Nibbies Salon, Saara El-Arifi and publisher Natasha Bardon talked through the author–editor relationship and how writers get published. Book-to-World Debate (Crime Fiction): Lee Child criticized “slightly Orwellian” demands to remove offensive passages from older books, arguing novels are historical artefacts worth preserving as-is. New Fiction in Stores (US/UK): Ann Patchett promoted her new novel “Whistler,” while coverage also highlighted a new June wave of popular science titles and culture picks. Reading & Community Events (Local): Multiple independent bookstore events were announced, from author conversations and storytimes to signings and meet-and-greets. Tech & Publishing (AI): A separate thread covered how AI-enabled scams are increasingly using authors’ books and names to target readers.

CBSE Portal Update: Class 12 students can now use CBSE’s post-result verification and re-evaluation portal after a June 1 delay, with Aadhaar-based login and a short June 2–6 window; CBSE also shared a video guide and says the system is meant to fix issues in scanned answer sheets. AI & Publishing Tech: Anthropic filed for a U.S. IPO, while separate tech coverage argues “context” matters more than prompt tricks for getting reliable AI outputs. Books & Community: Wisconsin’s Bookshop Quest 2026 sends readers to 35 independent stores with maps and stamp stops, and Eugene Public Library kicks off a free “Unearth a Story” summer reading program for all ages. Sportswriting Spotlight: A new sports podcast episode pairs former pro soccer player Georgia Cloepfil and author Jules Boykoff on what it takes to play—and what the World Cup business really costs. New Book Release: A new mental fitness framework book, The 7 Pillars of Mental Fitness, targets resilience and focus for people stressed by modern overload.

ComicFest Enniskillen: St Macartin’s Cathedral Hall hosts a June 6–7 comics hub with creators, workshops, panels, and merch, headlined by U.S. artist Michael Lark (Lazarus, Daredevil, Captain America) plus Torunn Grønbekk (Catwoman, Thor, Venom) and first-time guest Kev Hopgood (War Machine, Iron Man). Memoir Spotlight: Shirley Rickett’s Tales: Memoir and Poems of an American Woman and the Wisdom of Robert Bly hits Amazon bestseller status, blending family history, WWII-era upheaval, and reflective poetry. E-reader Hardware: iFlytek’s Fika brings a smartphone-like form factor to an Android-powered monochrome E Ink reader with 4G, warm light, and an “AI button” for text suggestions. Bond & Games: 007: First Light review praises it as the best Bond game since GoldenEye, leaning into a narrative-driven origin story. Literary Awards: The International Booker Prize 2026 winner Yang Shuang-zi says literature can extend conversations across generations. Publishing & Education: Uttar Pradesh orders district-wise verification of book supply and payments for schools under Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI.

Influencer Kids: “Like, Follow, Subscribe” (Gallery Books) digs into how mommy-vlogging fame can blur boundaries for children, weighing creator-economy money against long-term harm. Library Summer Programs: East Liverpool Carnegie’s Summer Reading Club opens registration today, with weekly family events, trivia/coupon games, and reading-log rewards through July 31. Children’s Publishing & Taboo Topics: A new wave of kids’ books tackles subjects like IVF and incest, including Anna Fiske’s “How Do You Make a Baby,” which drew bans and death threats abroad. Local Literary Launches: Trinidad’s NCIC Heritage Centre hosted a launch spotlighting new titles on Indo-Trinidadian identity and cultural preservation. Book Review: Gail Crowther’s “Marilyn and Her Books” examines Monroe’s reported 430-volume library, but the review calls the analysis overly sweet and thin. Tech for Readers: Amazon’s Kindle Colorsoft drops below AU$300 in a Mid-Year Sale, pushing color e-reading into more bargain territory. Education Tech Controversy: India’s CBSE Class 12 re-evaluation portal is set to open June 1, after earlier portal problems and scrutiny of its on-screen marking system.

Kuala Lumpur Book Fair Buzz: At PBAKL 2026, writers say social media is driving sales and stronger writer-reader ties, with publishers also pushing new TVET reference titles—500+ books—into Malay to widen access to practical, job-ready knowledge. New Fiction Arrival: Kathryn Stockett’s long-awaited follow-up to The Help lands with The Calamity Club, a 1930s Mississippi story of three women building community amid state cruelty. Publishing & Rights Watch: Malaysia’s ITBM is expanding TVET publishing, while the Philippines’ national artist and publisher are challenging VAT on digital books as a barrier to education and free expression. Libraries as Community: The Emirates Library association is spotlighting libraries’ societal role at the Warsaw International Book Fair, and Copenhagen’s “Human Library” keeps the conversation going by lending people, not books. Book-to-Event Momentum: A nine-year-old comic author in Sartell sells out his debut signing, and Perth’s Queer Book Club picks How to Dress for Old Age for June.

Reading Culture Push: Malaysia’s education minister says a “Reading City” could take shape in 20 years, with wider access to quality books and a push for daily reading habits, including shared reading in new preschool curriculum. Book-to-Screen Buzz: A guide to what to read next after the “Project Hail Mary” movie highlights Andy Weir’s bestselling sci-fi and its space-journey premise. YA Author Spotlight: Andrew Keenan-Bolger discusses his new coming-of-age YA novel “Limelight,” inspired by his theatre background and set in 1996. LitRPG Adaptation Debate: Pirateaba weighs in on why an animated approach would work better than live action for “The Wandering Inn,” citing complex character designs. Tech & Security Backlash: Microsoft’s stance on criminal charges tied to “Nightmare Eclipse” disclosures sparks pushback from the security community. Independent Retail: Wisconsin launches “Bookshop Quest 2026,” a statewide independent bookstore crawl running through June. Publishing Events Abroad: Sharjah’s Guest of Honour presence at the Warsaw International Book Fair spotlights Emirati and Arab publishing and translation efforts. Bookstore Expansion: Barnes & Noble confirms a new New York store opening in November in Henrietta.

Teen Publishing Breakthrough: A 15-year-old “bookworm” has landed her first murder mystery, When Friends Fall Silent, due on Amazon June 19, with support from her English teacher and family. Literary Spotlight: A new look at Willa Cather’s The Professor’s House reframes it as a war story tied to a real-life death in World War I. Global Books & Ideas: A graphic-design book, Macondo York, revisits García Márquez’s New York spell through typography and history. History, Method, and Power: Romila Thapar and Namit Arora discuss how historical knowledge is made—and how politics and social media shape what gets believed. Orthodox Spiritual Reading: Penguin highlights The Philokalia, a medieval Eastern Orthodox prayer anthology translated into English. Publishing in the Real World: Knox County, TN reinstates Roots after a book-ban backlash. Education Admin Update: India’s CBSE pushes its Class 12 re-evaluation portal to June 1 after glitches and verification concerns. Tech for Readers: Reviews spotlight Boox’s E Ink tablets as distraction-free alternatives to mainstream e-readers.

Education & Culture Clash: UK A-level English is dropping George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London as a set text, replacing it with Anna Funder’s Wifedom, reigniting debate over “woke” curriculum shifts. Publishing & Events: Warsaw International Book Fair opened with Sharjah as the first-ever Arab Guest of Honour, spotlighting translation and cross-cultural dialogue. Book Festivals: Bookmarks announced the first slate of authors for its 21st Annual Festival of Books & Authors in Winston-Salem, rolling out names in stages ahead of Sept. 26. Awards Watch: Canada Reads winner Loghan Paylor’s The Cure for Drowning is shortlisted for the $20K Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize. Indie Bookselling: The American Booksellers Association called 2025 a “banner year” for indies while warning 2026 remains tough, sharing membership and financial outlook. Community Writing: Oakland University launches a free Faith in Detroit Summer Writing Workshop June 11–14 with author Emily Bernard. Local Retail: Healy News Stand in Rhode Island plans to close July 1 after years of service, citing Main Street change and lottery troubles.

Publishing & Books in the Classroom: After a Windsor School Board reversal, YA author Neal Shusterman spoke via Zoom with students about his novel Scythe, after earlier approval was blocked for being “too triggering.” Health & Women’s Medicine: New practical hormone guides, including Dr. Louise Newson’s The Power of Hormones and Dr. Mary Claire Haver’s The New Perimenopause, push evidence-based care and criticize misdiagnosis. Book Culture & Community Events: Spokane’s Lilac City Comicon returns June 6–7 with 300+ exhibitors, cosplay, and book-and-pop-culture shopping plus local charity fundraising. AI & Writing Debate: A new discussion piece argues AI-aided and AI-authored fiction is already here, using a past Japanese AI novel contest as a signpost. Local Literary Scene: Berkeley’s Bay Area Book Festival kicks off as a future-focused, largely free, author-heavy gathering. Game Preservation Law: California’s “Protect Our Games Act” advances, aiming to keep games accessible after service ends—fueling the “Stop Killing Games” movement. Media Industry: CBS News names Nick Bilton as the new top producer of 60 Minutes, signaling changes ahead.

Independent Book Retail: Books & Bevs in York, UK, won “Best Independent Retailer” after a fast start since opening in Dec. 2025, adding a café-style “Bevs” side to keep browsing social. Festival & Community: Berkeley’s Bay Area Book Festival returns May 29–31 with nearly 400 authors and a “Writing the Future” theme, plus free workshops and YouthLit. New Releases & Reading Culture: Interlink highlights fresh queer and LGBTQ+ titles, including Homosexual Intifada, while Ruskin Bond, 92, promotes All-Time Favourite Friendship Stories and notes that “someone, somewhere” is still reading. Book Events & Signings: LongHouse Reserve hosts Alastair Gordon for a revised 25th-anniversary edition talk and signing of Long Island Modern. Local Library Programming: Jerseyville Public Library’s Friends group launches a monthly “Kids Books for Keeps Day” alongside a big DVD sale. Publishing & Tech: Amazon is placing free advance reader copies of new Amazon Publishing books inside an Amazon Locker in the Bronx, turning pickup points into mini book drops.

Local Book Grants: A family-run Children’s Bookshelf in Commercial Street won a Penguin-backed grant to build a “visual reading pathway,” with age-tailored sessions and book packs aimed at reluctant and neurodivergent readers. Author Spotlight: Laura Numeroff’s “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” brought a bestselling author visit to Parkside Elementary, with students joining in as she read and made intentional “mistakes.” AI & Writing: A new explainer asks whether AI text detectors can be trusted, as transparency in authorship grows more important. Tech in Hiring: Recruiters are increasingly using AI for job interviews, changing what candidates should expect. Publishing & Safety: CBSE says its on-screen marking portal wasn’t compromised, clarifying a separate testing URL was cited in viral claims. Community Events: Lit Youngstown’s First Wednesday Reader Series features poet Philip Brady and essayist Jacqueline Marino, with free admission and ASL interpretation. New Releases: USA TODAY Sports is promoting “FOREVER ROWDY,” a collector’s hardcover on Kyle Busch’s NASCAR legacy.

Publishing & Culture: Sally Rooney’s new Hebrew translation, Intermezzo, is set to be released by an Israeli publisher described as “BDS-compliant,” reigniting debate over how “selective” boycotts are framed. Poetry & Prizes: The 2026 CBC Poetry Prize jury is named, with submissions open until June 1 and the winner set to receive $6,000 plus publication on CBC Books. Books & Community Events: City Lights hosts poetry readings in early June, while Jefferson Parish libraries kick off summer reading with free, family-friendly events. Indigenous Literature: UP Visayas researchers and Panay Bukidnon collaborators are recognized for Epics of Panay winning National Book Awards poetry honors. Education Costs: Telangana cuts textbook prices for Classes 1–10, but parents may not see savings due to private-school add-ons. Tech & Reading: Spotify expands narrated magazine audio, pushing more “story” listening into podcast-style formats. Local Publishing Spotlight: A Louisiana family memoir is published to preserve parents’ life on the Ouachita River.

New Mystery Release: Bloomsbury’s Our Deadly Summer brings Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen back with a fast, funny millennial mystery—two timelines, a Long Island summer in 2001, and a buried body that fractures a friendship for 20-plus years. Hispanic Heritage Picks: Elizabeth Acevedo shares five must-reads for the month, including Latino Poetry: The Library of America Anthology. Library Business Boost: Rainier City Library launches a Business Resource Center, stocked with marketing and accounting titles and supported by the local chamber. School Tech Crackdown: Prince William County Public Schools will block YouTube on school devices starting 2026–27, while keeping teacher-selected video instruction. Publishing & Culture: Padma Awards 2026 were announced at Rashtrapati Bhavan, and Japan’s “catnomics” continues to turn feline fandom into big business. Also Noted: A major Thoreau scholarship milestone lands with Princeton UP’s new Correspondence volume.

CBSE OSM Backlash: India’s CBSE is pushing back hard on viral claims that its On-Screen Marking portal was hacked, saying the flagged URL was only a testing site with sample data and that the real evaluation system uses a different secure address—while it reports nearly 9 lakh answer books already furnished and says the verification/revaluation portal is expected to go live May 29. FBI Election Probe: The FBI plans to interview Milwaukee police officers tied to the 2020 election investigation, including questions around a flash drive briefly left in a voting machine—an incident that fueled conspiracy theories. Books & Culture: Hannibal, Missouri is staging a downtown drone show for Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer’s 150th anniversary, and a new documentary series, Framed: The Kit Martin Story, reexamines a 2015 triple homicide trial. Tech & Reading: A fresh wave of scam warnings targets fake “star trader” crypto groups on messaging apps, while Spotify tests narrated magazine content inside its audiobook tier.